The first mention of an honor system at Gettyburg came in the Spring of 1906. The Gettysburgian started reporting on a movement to create an Honor System to enhance the academic climate of the college. According to the April 18 issue of the Gettysburgian, there was a desire to restructure the atmosphere “which makes the professor a detective and assumes that the student is a criminal in an embryo.” Cheating on examinations was the biggest violation.
After working for several years, the system was finally put in place in 1912. The classes of 1914 (sophomores) and 1915 (freshman) were the first to utilize the system. The idea was to introduce slowly the policy on academic integrity with each new class as it began school. The introduction of the system was spurred on by an incident involving a senior who was suspended for cheating in February of 1912. To get their classmate reinstated, more than fifty seniors signed a pledge that they would not cheat for the remainder of their academic career at Gettysburg.
Although there was a system in place, it was less than satisfactory. In the fall on 1915, the Pen and Sword Society was charged with researching other schools’ approaches to an honor system in hopes of improving Gettysburg’s. The new system, based on the Society’s findings, was widely popular and voted into immediate effect in February of 1916. The first pledge said “I hereby pledge my word of honor that I have neither given nor received illegal aid during this examination.” The Constitution also empowered students with the responsibility for reporting violations if they witnessed one. The student council was in charge of governing the system. In 1918, in order to remain a student at Gettysburg, you were required to sign a statement in full support and total acceptance of the Honor System.
During World War I, however, the Honor System began to crumble and after the war, it had lost all support. It became a mockery among both students and faculty and finally in 1922, ten years after its inception, the student body voted to abandon the system.
The idea remained silent for nearly 20 years until it resurfaced again, this time taking a different route for support. Both the English and Chemistry departments instated their own departmental honor systems in the early 1940’s.
It was not until the fall of 1957 that the new Honor Commission came to fruition. General Willard Paul, President of the College, led the formation of the group and integration of academic integrity into the everyday life of the college. We have the same Honor Code and Honor Commission now, more than 40 years later. The Honor Code system was initiated and run by students who believed in academic integrity and the value it contributes to our education. These ideals still guide and govern the Commission today.
References Glatfelter, Charles H. A Salutary Influence: Gettysburg College, 1832-1985. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: W & M Printing, Inc., 1987.